I don't know if the BRHG alone could have made my hair super brittle, majorly shedding, tangly as heck and impossible. But since I stopped it, my hair has been better; however, now I have eliminated all protein - and I've added oil.

Does coconut bother you guys? What about Panthenol? How about Silk Amino Acids? Those are the ones I'm trying out and so far so good

But in the sheamoisture line there is some silk protein (not sure if that's the same as silk amino acids) that I'll try.

How long does it take to tell if you're reacting? Can it happen within 24 hours or is it long with build up (i.e., harder to track)?

3b/fine/normal porosity/normal elasticity

LOVES behentrimonium methosulfate (don't ask me to pronounce that!)

Want to grow it long again!
And simply want to figure out this hair of mine!

My hair seems to like only silk proteins or amino acids. I can get over protein'd in a day if I don't watch it. My hair is finicky with coconut oil, but loves coconut milk as an occasional PT... My hair reacts within a day or two to soy or wheat proteins too. I'm tempted to try keratin again, but I need to wait until my hair is protein thirsty to give it a go.

My hair only likes keratin - I've actually had the Brazilian keratin treatment and my hair was gorgeous (though not worth the money, time, and exposure to chemicals).

Wheat and soy it reacts to almost immediately - dry, flyaway, brittle, loss of curl pattern.

Coconut it will tolerate for awhile but then goes to the reaction like wheat.

Silk amino acids are tolerable, but do not do anything great, and I've never used them for long enough to really see what they do.

I haven't tested the reaction to any other proteins, but since keratin works and my low-porosity hair doesn't require much protein, I've just removed everything protein-containing except my GVP K-pak (which I use around my coloring).

I have just recently discovered that my hair is allergic to protein ;p had no idea, before, why certain products just destroyed my hair - but thanks to using Devacurl (protein rich) I finally figured it out.

My hair detests all proteins, especially wheat/soy/hops - these ingredients can result in a flash freeze of dried out, tangled, knotted hair within seconds of application...you asked how long it takes before you notice the protein destroying hair - I can go about 3 days using a protein shampoo or condish, or styling product, before my hair goes haywire - literally ;p first day of protein, hair loves it. Second day, have to rewash...no second day hair results. third day, hair goes limp; day 4, hair goes limp, gummy; day 5 - limp, gummy and greasy - day 6, instant hay, the moment I apply the product. Literally flash-dries my hair.

Coconut oil works very well as a deep condish, I melt a little organic coconut oil (about 3/4 of a cup) in a bowl over hot water, then apply to dry hair...cover with shower cap, blow dry shower cap for added heat penetration, then shampoo and condish as usual...results, awesome curl pattern that begins the moment I rinse out the last condish I can literally see my hair doing a natural spiral and clump, and I only have 2 C hair at best!

My final conclusion is to avoid protein like the devil it is ;p and don't think just cause you may have fine hair, that you need it - I have super fine hair but lots of it, and my hair hates protein!

I'm thinking amino acids are just protein broken down to smaller particles. I suspect if your hair can't tolerate silk protein then it won't tolerate the silk amino acids either.

As far as i have been able to determine, my hair doesn't like any proteins. I use aloe once a week as a strengthening treatment. My hair likes it, but I still have to use it judiciously and follow with a good conditioning treatment.

A poster above mentioned that fine hair doesn't always like protein...my pet peeve is the misconception that low-porosity hair always does. My low-po hair begs to differ!! Reputable websites can't agree on the porosity/protein thing and I see quite a mix on here of different porosity/protein combo hair. Personally, I don't think porosity has much to do with it.

Okay, well, I'm finding even coconut oil isn't great - it's not as bad as protein, but my hair doesn't like it.

Is argan oil protein?

I just do well with KCKT and KCCC and some Jane Carter smoothing over it! That's about it these days! I'm limited.

I just tried a SheaMoisture DT but it has soybean oil in it.

I wonder if others react to natural proteins like avocado oil

Originally Posted by LilaGirl

Lilagirl, I understand your frustration and your need to experiment, but if your hair likes the KCKT and KCCC and Jane Carter, werl...then maybe stick with it? lol

One of the things I am discovering in this whole curly hair process is that you have to keep trying things, yes, but if you try too many at once, you and your hair will just get confused! Myself I have found it useful to try only one line or one type of thing every 2 weeks, then use process of elimination to find out what it is my hair likes/doesn't like. It's slow and tedious, but it works...don't give up, tho, you will for sure discover things your hair likes I know some gals here can't hack protein but swear by avocado oil etc - and - of course - what works awesomely for some people won't for you, because all of us have different hair, with differing needs...I do know if you use a protein-based deep treatment, you have to follow up with moisturizing condish, or it will kill your hair ;p

I have found the most useful way to triage new products is to search different brands using the "no protein" option on the filter, then reading the icons that appear below the product to let you know what is in it - *before* I commit myself to buying or trying!

I wish you luck in your product/oil hunt, I am doing the same, these days...

ETA: My hair can't hack argan oil or Moroccan oil...don't know if it has protein or not, but a lot of the conditioners/poos that have those products in them also have protein in them!

The KCKT KCCC works but it's not my favorite. I'd rather have some options.

Smoothing (for CJ) always works for me as a RO/LI - heck, I use it for everything - cowash, RO/LI - and then I tried komaza coconut pudding over that. I'm trying to get a read on the coconut pudding b/c it looks awesome for a couple hours and then as the day progresses my hair starts to frizz - second day is always the test for me - if my hair feels dried out or tangled, then I know I can't use it.

I called Komaza and they said to use something more moisturizing than KCKT under the coconut pudding, so that's why I'm trying smoothing we'll see-

3b/fine/normal porosity/normal elasticity

LOVES behentrimonium methosulfate (don't ask me to pronounce that!)

Want to grow it long again!
And simply want to figure out this hair of mine!

You are lucky to have access to all those curly products in the States, here in Canada it is hard to find anything ;p and so many, many products seem to have protein in them.

I am currently experimenting with some protein-free TiGi products, so far so good even got lovely second day hair today, with a minimum of frizz. The products have lots of unpronounceable things in them, and some 'cones, sadly, but hey, at this point, I am desperate...lol!

Anyways, I wish you luck with the Komaza....let us know how it works out for you!